カメムシ

カ

メ

ム

シ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

shield bug; stink bug; pentatomid

usually written using kana alone

Refers to insects of the family Pentatomidae, known for their shield-like shape and foul odor when threatened. Common in gardens and fields.

カメムシUsage97%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this insect name; the word is usually written in kana.
亀かめ虫むしUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 亀 means 'turtle', referring to the bug's shape.
かめむし
Hiragana spelling, also common.
椿象かめむし
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 椿象 is a Chinese-derived name for stink bugs.

The name カメムシ (亀虫) literally means 'turtle bug', from its turtle-like shape. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese compound.